Sam wants to concentrate on getting better - and although she recently started a course of steroids and is back on solid food, the reality beauty is worried about the effects any medicine will have on her frame, and how that will be played out on TV.

"You never really know what effect the steroids will have, but she actually hasn't put on any weight at the moment," the pal added to Heat.

The illness is also said to have changed Sam's outlook and she wants to concentrate on other opportunities in Australia (where they love a bit of TOWIE apparently) and the US.

3. A LACK OF STORYLINES

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TOWIE Sam and Billie Faiers speed-dating

It has been mostly about sister Billie Faiers and her pregnancy this series - unlike the Sam and Joey emotional rollercoaster it was last year. This series Sam has taken more of a backseat and, according to pals, feels she has nowhere to go.

"She's sad to leave, but she is mates with a lot of the cast. She is looking forward to a trip to Marbs without the cameras."